possumtrot

No, don't know anything you need to know...I wish you nothing but the best on getting scheduled! I'm self-pay so I needed to go a more affordable route. I flat out couldn't afford the weight loss surgeons in KY or TN that I contacted. DH insisted that I not go out of the country so Las Vegas it is! Looking forward to doing a tour of the Grand Canyon.

150 is my goal too. It is exciting for pre-op me to read the successes of post-op folks. Congratulations for meeting your milestone and Thanks for sharing...things like this make me even more excited to get the ball rolling on my own sleeve!

I've lost 10 lbs already (yay) so hopefully that trend will continue and if I just pack my regular clothes from right now I'll be comfortable enough. Thanks for the input folks. It would be a nightmare to have to take my post-op flight and be so swollen still that even my regular clothes are uncomfortable...although I made sure the flight back home is a non-stop just in case! I figured that would also decrease the liklihood of dvt. We will be staying 4 days after surgery so hopefully I'll be jellin', lol. Will definitely plan on wearing elastic on the trip home though! I am stupidly sad, though, at the loss of my current wardrobe as for the first time in years I actually like my clothes...even if they are humongo by regular standards. I'm currently trying to find a seamstress who will be able to alter them for me as much as possible. After keeping huge totes full of clothes that were too small for decades, this past Jan. I finally got rid of them. Go figure. They probably would have been too outdated anyway, right?

Praying that each day gets better for you as you recover and start this newest leg of your life!

Also, I don't think it is crazy to have thoughts of "What If" about our doctors since many of us are using doctors we will not meet until right before surgery. At the very first part of the journey I had wondered if maybe mine or other choices available was a drug addict or something... not very nice I know, and maybe I've watched too many Dateline NBCs but the thought does occur! I could just see myself going in and having other major organs ruined because my dr. was doped up during surgery. I feel differently about things now though. Thank Goodness!

I'd say it is more than normal and if you didn't have any fears at all over having surgery you probably hadn't thought it all out. You'll do great. I can't wait to hear how well you are progressing! There is no doubt in my mind that you will ROCK your super sleeve. You and all the other posters having surgery is in my prayers. This is something no one should take lightly. Heck, I just updated my will. Not a pleasant thing to do but we do need to be realistic and be prepared. I'm ten days out now...and the time is flying past...I can only imagine how much quicker the time is going to go the closer to the big day I get. ((hugs))

cwalker, Brava! You're over half-way to goal in such a short time! I cannot wait for my own NSVs. So glad you shared yours.

You are in my prayers gsegura. Praying for a successful, noneventful surgery and recovery!

Best wishes to everyone going to have surgery. I, too, dreaded telling certain people, but maybe you'll have the same experience I did and it will be positive. I dreaded telling my pcp since last year when I went to a non-surgical bariatric dr. he had fits about it thinking I was going to have surgery. But I went in prepared to do battle FOR his approving my surgery...and he was all for it. No battle necessary. I dreaded telling my mom because I was sure she would be against it. I was wrong. She is being super supportive (as well as my pcp). It's amazing how wrong I was about their reactions. I assumed (and we all know what that does to u and my, lol).

Thanks! Funny you mention those Danskin pants...I have 2 pair and had already planned on taking them. Good to hear about the swelling, although I'll save my favoritist pair of pants *ever* for after surgery just in case...terry cloth capris, as those babies fit whether I'm a size 18 or a size 24. I'm an apple shaped person so the swelling thing could make or break my wardrobe since if I swell too much my waist will go haywire I'm sure.

So nice to not feel so isolated in this...thanks everyone and keep up the hard fight of becoming independent from nicotine. We can all do this!

My mom had colon surgery earlier this year and had significant swelling that lasted quite a long time, but she was not active either. I'm looking at my wardrobe and wondering how much swelling I should allow for with the clothes I will be wearing those first few days post-op. Was your swelling from surgery very much and how long did it last?

So far the Chantix is doing a good job. Yesterday I realized it had been 6 hours since I smoked and didn't really crave...it was just my evil brain telling me I ought to light up. This morning was the first time my routine has actually been altered. Every day I wake up and go outside to puff. This morning I did not...well, I went out eventually but it was like a 45 minute delay...totally unheard of in my world. I officially start the pre-op diet today. Maybe it is just me but I'm finding that the liquid Protein gives me gas...not a good thing since I work with the public and supervise a couple of hundred of employees. Beano is on my shopping list today. Hopefully it will do the trick!

Hope you are doing well nightingale!

Sounds like you're doing great!

I'm wondering how many folks have experienced their sense of taste...as in what is good and what is "yucky"...change after having bariatric surgery. I've had people who had sweet tooths before surgery tell me that now they can't stand sweet things, sometimes just the smell of foods makes them gag, etc. Just trying to figure out maybe if this is common or not. Please share your experience. Or, do you still like the same foods and have not been bothered by smells or textures any more than you were before being sleeved?

This is just one more of those things I would've been unaware of prior to surgery, so thanks OP for the heads up. I have no idea if I will be expected to give myself shots, but frankly, the thought of it oogs me out a little. I can give shots to animals all day long and not have a problem but am very uncomfortable doing it to a human...especially myself! That's one reason why I'm so on fire to have this surgery because I know it would be a matter of time with my weight and family history of diabetes that I would likely end up having to give myself injections (like so many of my family). I appreciate your info and totally understand being a little gaga over the concept. We're alike in the fact that we'll do it if we have to but it is not on the top of the list of things we want to do, eh?

*squeal* I know you're going to do great. Congrats on getting a date!

:thumbup: I've heard this from several people now. Before my problem was that I was not wholey committed to quitting. I used it as a stress reliever instead of food. I'm thinking of taking up knitting or something, lol, in order to relieve that stress since I won't have cigs or food to rely on after July 16!

Absolutely amazing success you've had. I pray I have the same type of victory. Hope you don't mind, but I'm going to copy your idea of taking side view pictures every week...what a fabulous way of documenting the journey!

My last real food for a while will be in Vegas. Don't know what it will be yet but I plan on making sure it is lean protein with green veggies. killjoy I know. But then again, I've already had all my favorites: fried corn, creamed peas and new potatoes, fresh green beans. All I lack is having fried squash blossoms then I'll be good to go. Maybe they'll have those in Vegas (not likely).

I'm quitting smoking too. Might as well do it now rather than later. I'm still in the smoking stage using Chantix but am confident this is going to do the trick. I've tried every other method out there. You're right...it IS hard but I must say it is one of the things I regret the most...starting smoking. Best of luck with your smoking cessation!

I can relate. I had a short "goodbye, favorite foods tour" immediately after getting my surgical date. Since that time though I've gotten it out of my system somewhat although if I get a chance to have a mess of fried squash blossoms I'll be ALL over that. <blush>

Thank you for your candor. As someone who is a couple weeks away from surgery I want to hear everyone's experiences. Post-op issues are what I am concerned about too, so by relating your experience you help me learn. It is greatly appreciated.

I will be having surgery with Dr. Tom Umbach in Las Vegas.